Malawi Assemblies of God announced on Friday that it has appointed its Deputy President, Rev. Nelson Banda to serve as acting president following an early retirement of Malawi Congress Party presidential hopeful, Rev. Dr. Lazarus Chakwera.

In a statement made available to Nyasa Times, the church’s secretary general Rev. Benitto Chisamba, confirmed that Chakwera has retired from the church position which he has served as leader for the past 24 years.

Chakwera’s retirement is with effect from May14th, 2013. He took over from late Reverend Maxwell Chapola.

“Malawi Assemblies of God will follow its constitutional mandates in electing the Church‘s successor to Dr Chakwera at the appropriate time. But the Deputy President, Rev. Nelson Banda will serve as acting President until General Assembly meets,” said the statement.

Rev Dr Chakwera: For MCP presidency

The statement further said Malawi Assemblies of God which is the largest Pentecostal congregation in Malawi established in 1947 – will continue to be non-partisan as it serves Malawians who belong to various political affiliations and/or those who are not even involved with political parties.

“Dr Chakwera‘s decision to offer to serve Malawians through the Malawi Congress Party [MCP] is his own as he has a right as a citizen of Malawi to do so.

“The Malawi Assemblies of God leadership has since accepted his retirement from the Presidency. However, he remain a credentialed minister of the Malawi Assemblies of God,” read the statement in part.

Chakwera has left an ambitious programme for the church to open new university later this year that will, apart from the theological studies, offer a variety of programmes.

Some of the programmes to be offered at the new university include Education, Commerce and Accountancy and Leadership management.